Workload charging by soft-capping to a defined capacity

Workload charging introduces the capability to pay software license fees based on the size of the LP the product is running in, rather than on the total capacity of the CPC. The capability is enabled by the LPAR clustering technology of the z17 together with the License Manager component of z/OS®. Each LP is assigned a defined capacity by the installation in terms of Millions of Service Units (MSUs).

WLM helps ensure that the rolling 4-hour average CPU utilization for the LP does not exceed this amount by tracking the CPU utilization for the logical partition. If the 4-hour average CPU consumption of the LP exceeds the defined capacity of the LP, WLM dynamically activates LP capping (soft-capping). When the rolling 4-hour average dips below the defined capacity, the soft-cap is removed.

WLM will not dynamically adjust the defined capacity for an LP. This is the responsibility of the installation. If an LP consistently exceeds its defined capacity, the license certificates and the defined capacity of the LP should be adjusted to reduce the amount of time the LP is soft-capped. If you have a configuration where the LP weights move significantly from one LP to another according to shift, then you must license the products in each LP at the highest capacity that will be used by that LP.

Defined capacity and the use of soft-capping by software applies to general purpose processors only. Initial Capping for general purpose processors is not supported for an LP that uses defined capacity and soft-capping. Initial capping for all other processor types is supported in such an LP.